EARLY TIMES KENTUCKY WHISKY LAUNCHES “REEL IN A MILLION” CONTEST

Winner Will Fish With Professional Angler Kevin Wirth for One Million Dollars

Louisville, KY – Early Times Kentucky Whisky has announced the popular “Reel in a Million” contest will return for 2010. The winner will receive a dream fishing trip to Lake Erie in Buffalo, New York for a chance to catch a tagged bass worth one million dollars.

Early Times will lend the help of Team Early Times’ Kevin Wirth, one of the world’s top-ranked anglers, as his or her fishing partner for the day. Together they will try to reel in 25 tagged bass connected to great prizes including the “Big Cash Bass” worth one million dollars. 

“Not only is there a million dollars on the line, but this is one of the only fishing promotions that we know of where a consumer will have the opportunity to work side-by-side with a world class angler to win great prizes,” said Joe Murray, brand manager for Early Times Kentucky Whisky.

Starting June 1, 2010, consumers 21 years of age and older can enter Early Times’ “Reel in a Million” contest on-line at www.earlytimes.com, or by mail using entry forms available in-stores. Early Times will select a winner in early August and the “Reel in a Million” event will take place on September 25. The winner and one guest will be provided with travel to Lake Erie along with two nights accommodations. Entries must be received by July 31, 2010.

In addition to the million-dollar tagged bass, the lucky angler is eligible to pull in the other 24 tagged fish all which are connected to prizes including a Triton VT17 bass boat and various gift certificates. Whether it is Wirth who catches a tagged bass or the sweepstakes winner, Early Times will give all prizes and money to the winner of the contest. For full sweepstakes details visit www.teamearlytimes.com.

About Team Early Times

Early Times Kentucky Whisky, is enjoyed in 28 countries around the world and the Early Times Mint Julep is the “Official Drink of the Kentucky Derby™.” For more information visit www.earlytimes.com. Brown-Forman Corporation, Louisville, Kentucky, is a diversified producer and marketer of fine quality alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka, Tequila Herradura, el Jimador Tequila, Canadian Mist, Old Forester, Fetzer wines, and Korbel California Champagnes.

A ‘Smoke’ for Dad?

With Father’s Day fast approaching, get your Dad ‘smoking’ with a bottle of our finest Smokehead or Smokehead Extra Black.

Visit www.smokehead.co.uk to find your nearest stockist.

Buy Smokehead at the Glengoyne Online Shop

Visit the Smokehead website for Smokehead drinking suggestions, Screensavers and to find out more about Smokehead. www.smokehead.co.uk

New Filling Store at Glengoyne

It was a momentous day for the distillery team last month when the very first cask was filled in the new Glengoyne filling store. The brand new filling store has been built as part of the new warehouse expansion.

Currently we can store up to 6000 casks, however when complete, the new warehouses will allow us to mature up to 50,000 casks at the distillery.

Wanted … Whisky Lovers to Choose Single Cask Bottling

Cask Idol – the search for the perfect dram – is a once in a lifetime opportunity to become part of the Glengoyne selection panel and help choose the first ever Glengoyne Distillery exclusive single cask whisky, to be bottled in 2011.

For £70 visitors are able to join the hunt on a tour of the distillery and warehouse no.8, as well as a tasting of Glengoyne’s previous three single cask releases. Guests then judge three mature samples drawn from the cask and are asked to write their own tasting notes for each. The most popular cask will be announced in April 2011 and released with one lucky fan’s name and tasting notes displayed on the label.

Joining the already highly popular and acclaimed selection of Glengoyne tours, along with the new Cask Idol tour, is A Century of Whisky.  A Century of Whisky (£150 per person) includes a tutored tasting of Glengoyne Distillery’s oldest, most valuable, and finest Highland Single Malt: the Glengoyne 40 Years Old, worth £200 per dram, as well as the exceptionally rare Isle of Skye 50 Years Old blended Scotch whisky. These two unparalleled whiskies, along with the Glengoyne 10 Years Old, represent a century of maturation.

Each dram will be tasted in its own bespoke crystal ‘copita’ glass, which guests take home as a memento of the day.  This is a truly unique opportunity to taste rare and expensive, top quality whiskies. Only 400 bottles of the Isle of Skye 50 Years Old blended Scotch Whisky, and 250 crystal decanters of the Glengoyne 40 Years Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky were produced, costing £1,000 and £3,750 respectively.

Visit Glengoyne at www.glengoyne.com

Glengoyne Distillery has launched a brand new personalised bottle shopping area at http://shop.glengoyne.com, completing the final stage of redesign for the online store.

With the aim of making the process of buying the award-winning whisky simpler, quicker and more enjoyable, all available Glengoyne products can now be purchased online, from the core range and special limited edition single cask bottlings, up to the super premium Glengoyne 40 Years Old.

One of the most popular elements of the online store, the exclusive personalised bottles and tubes of the 10, 17 and 21 Years Old Highland Single Malt Whiskies, has undergone a radical transformation.

The new, easy to use section allows customers to upload their image and type a unique message directly onto their personalised labels. A special new feature brings the design to life, allowing shoppers to preview an accurate depiction of the final label that will appear on the bottle and tube. As well as being more accessible to consumers, it is hoped that the completion of the personalised bottles section will also aid in boosting sales.

Glengoyne has offered an on-line shop since 2005, but decided to create a completely new shop platform, utilising the most advanced technology available in order to exceed customer expectations. Created by award-winning web design agency, The Weather Digital, the new online store provides a much more intuitive and richer experience to the visiting whisky fan. One of the key changes was improving the all-important checkout process.

Charlie Cutler, Managing Director of The Weather Digital explained: “The new process moves away from a multi-page “effort”, to a single page checkout. This is a much friendlier experience, reducing the number of would-be customers leaving the site before completing the purchase. Now users can choose whether to check-out as a guest or alternatively can register their details to review previous orders and make future purchases even quicker.”

Fiona Richardson, Retail Manager for Glengoyne commented: “We are delighted with the improvements to the online store, especially the new personalised bottle feature. As well as improving the customer experience, the new system makes the logistics of managing the personalised bottles sales much simpler and ensures an even better level of customer service. Since we commenced the reinvigoration of the online shop at the end of last year, it has already proved incredibly successful, increasing sales by over 53%.”

Other enhancements the new shop provides include:

– High quality photography allowing users to view products in much greater detail

– Newsletter sign-up to receive special offers from Glengoyne

– Email to a friend – to let your friends know about a product

– Build a wish list – keep a track of items you would like in the future

– Reviews – allow users to post up their reviews of the products

The new shop provides a powerful reporting tool, allowing the retail team to analyse who is buying products and what they are buying, ensuring the distillery is meeting all of the needs and demands of its customers. The shop also supports a range of special offers including voucher codes which can be used in future promotions by Glengoyne.

For more information on the new Glengoyne online store visit:

http://shop.glengoyne.com

Contacts:

Iain Weir, Marketing Director
Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd
T: 01506 852 205
E: iain@ianmacleod.com

Glengoyne Around the World …

It has been a busy few months for the Glengoyne team around the world. Here are some of the events that have been taking place over the last few months ….

Cannes Film Festival

The 63rd Cannes Film Festival took place from 12 May to 23 May 2010 and as the official malt of the Canal Plus tent and gala dinner, Glengoyne was there to make sure all the stars and film producers celebrated with a dram of our finest.

Limburg

The Glengoyne team enjoyed a busy few days at the Limburg Whisky Fair at the end of April.  Limburg is one of the biggest whisky fairs in Europe and it certainly didn’t disappoint!

During the fair, we introduced the Glengoyne 40 year old and guests of our Masterclass had the pleasure of seeing Glengoyne’s Valerie Marsh dressed as a German police officer with Klaus Maier, Brand Ambassador, handcuffed to the Glengoyne 40 year old…..

Kuala Lumpur

At the end of May we launched our first Duty-Free workshop in Malaysia. Taking place in Kuala Lumpur, the comprehensive and entertaining masterclass provided an overview and tastings of our award-winning Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Led by Andy Lane, Director of Travel Retail, the one-day seminar was held in conjunction with local Malaysian Duty-Free business partner, J Brands, bringing together 43 staff from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and customers from the Kuala Lumpur region.

Andy Lane commented: “We are delighted with the response to our inaugural workshop in Malaysia. Staff training is an integral part of developing sales of Malt Whisky, especially Glengoyne whiskies in this region. The staff and customers who attended contributed to a memorable and successful day.” 

Kuala Lumpur International Airport is one of South East Asia’s busiest aviation hubs, with over 25 million passengers passing through the airport every year.

Further Travel Retail training seminars are currently being planned for later this year, in the Middle East.

Singapore

Last month we unveiled a dramatic new look for TFWA Asia Pacific (9-13 May), launching an innovative bespoke stand, designed to showcase our range of fine whiskies and travel retail exclusives which are enjoying great success around the world. Key expressions on display included the ultra premium Glengoyne Highland Single Malt 40 Years Old, Glengoyne Highland Single Malt 14 Years Old ‘Heritage Gold’ litre and the stylish, award-winning Glengoyne Burnfoot, redesigned last year in litre and new 50cl PET variants.

Moving away from the original shell scheme and traditional, standard glass displays, the new open design uses clean sharp lines with bespoke laminate white cases and custom-built lightbox. Combined with high impact branding and an informal meeting area, the new stand gave Glengoyne higher visibility at the show, projecting our dedication and investment in travel retail.

Iain Weir, Glengoyne Marketing Director commented: “We are delighted with the finish of our new exhibition stand, which perfectly reinforces our strong and growing commitment to our global travel retail offering. Over the past three years, our travel retail sales and marketing strategy has focused principally on developing exciting new premium travel retail exclusives. We are now in a position to offer an enviable portfolio with global appeal, which our new stand shows off to maximum effect.”

Hong Kong

Reinforcing Glengoyne’s continued and growing success in the East, Ian Macleod Distillers attended Vinexpo Asia at the end of May.

As well as welcoming existing customers, we also introduced Glengoyne to a host of potential new customers from around Asia. Look out for us again in 2 years time … we will definitely be back!

Visit Glengoyne at www.glengoyne.com

Share a Chevelier Sangaree this Summer

With summer on the horizon, long sunny days and lingering dusky nights, it is the perfect time to open the drinks cabinet and shake up a refreshing cocktail to share with friends. The Chevelier Sangaree, inspired by Dean Evans of Blythwood Square Hotel, Glasgow – at The Glenrothes Ultimate Gentleman’s Cocktail Competition – is a long refreshing tipple combining the fruity notes of The Glenrothes with the warmth of an almond finish.

To make the Chevelier Sangaree take a Toddy glass and cool down with ice while you are preparing the rest of the ingredients. Pour 35ml The Glenrothes Select Reserve, 5ml Luxardo amaretto liqueur, 5ml Crème de poire, 5ml Cinzano Bianco and 5ml Simple Syrup (1 sugar to 1 water) into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake all of the ingredients. Strain the ingredients into the glass filled with ice and then garnish with a mint sprig and grated nutmeg.

The Glenrothes Select Reserve is a versatile yet unique malt laced with notes of ripe fruits, juicy citrus, creamy vanilla and hints of spice – making it the perfect liquid to partner with cocktails.

A vatting of casks distilled in different years, The Glenrothes Select Reserve typifies the Speyside distillery house style. It is presented in the iconic Glenrothes bottle and is the very essence of The Glenrothes range. RRP £33.45, available at Sainsbury’s, Oddbins, House of Fraser, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Wine Rack, specialist whisky retailers or online at www.theglenrothes.com.

Additional cocktails to try:

Monol of the Glen

Matty Hutchinson, Ricks, Edinburgh

Glass: Coupette

Garnish: Orange zest twist

Method: STIR all ingredients with ice and strain into chilled glass.

50ml The Glenrothes Select Reserve
20ml Cointreau triple sec
5ml Antica Formula
2 dashes Chocolate bitters

Fantastic Mr. Fudge

Sheverne Shahbazkhani, Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh

Glass: Old-fashioned

Garnish: Half passion fruit

Method: SHAKE all ingredients and fine strain into ice-filled glass.

2 shots The Glenrothes Select Reserve
2 wedges Freshly squeezed lime
1 shot Fudge reduction (homemade)
½ shot Passion fruit juice
½ shot Inness & Gunn

Sweet N Sour Spicy

Matthew Law, Bind Pig, Glasgow

Glass: Old-fashioned

Garnish: Rinse glass with Ricard

Method: SHAKE ingredients with ice and strain into ice-filled glass.

50ml The Glenrothes Select Reserve
25ml Freshly squeezed lemon juice
25ml Simple syrup (2 sugar to 1 water)
½ fresh Egg white
15 dried Cloves
1 dash Runny honey

Notes

About The Glenrothes

 ·         All cocktail recipes were created for The Glenrothes Ultimate Gentleman’s Cocktail Contest which took place in The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh on Monday 30th November 2009.

·         The Glenrothes was founded in 1879

·         Little more than 2% of the distillery capacity is bottled as Single Malt to ensure exceptional quality

·         Of the 16 Vintages released to date, 12 have entirely sold out

·         It is matured in a combination of Spanish and American oak casks – the best of both worlds

·         The Glenrothes Select Reserve was voted Best in Class at the World Whiskies Awards 2008 and won two Double Golds at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2007

For further information please visit www.theglenrothes.com

Smokehead has been named the official whisky sponsor of Classic Rock Magazine. To celebrate, a new edgy advertising campaign has been revealed, playing on the brand’s growing rock credentials and rising popularity.

Smokehead’s new, attention grabbing advertisement, will feature heavily in Classic Rock and its sister publication, Prog Rock, throughout 2010. Designed by creative agency Robertson Darby Advertising, the new campaign takes its lead from Smokehead’s award-winning packaging, cocooning a skull, the time-honoured symbol of rock, with adjectives capturing the Single Malt’s boisterous, outrageous, and deep peaty flavours.

As the Whisky of Choice for Classic Rock magazine, Smokehead will command a high presence in the monthly music publication and its website, through an extensive advertising campaign and sponsorship elements such as the Readers’ Letters page and regular promotions.

Smokehead is also now an official VIP sponsor for one of this year’s biggest rock events, London’s High Voltage Festival (24-25 July) and the hugely popular Classic Rock Roll of Honour 2010 Awards in November, attended by, and celebrating, rocks greatest icons.

Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod Distillers commented:

“Combining its adventurous and modern packaging, with a rich rollercoaster of challenging flavours, Smokehead defies conformity and what people would traditionally expect from an award-winning Single Malt Whisky. Smokehead is powerful, intense and not for the faint hearted. The perfect match for a Classic Rock lover.”

Angus Robertson, Managing Director of Roberston Darby Advertising commented:

“Our latest treatment for the Smokehead brand was created with Classic Rock Magazine very much in mind. Inspired by the powerful imagery of rock album covers, it uses Smokehead’s stunning typographical packaging to deliver a haunting and lasting impact.”

Taking place at London’s Victoria Park, High Voltage will be attended by thousands of hard core rockers, with the perfect combination of  “Smoke and Coke” over ice, being served to VIP ticket holders and headline acts such as Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Wishbone Ash and ZZ Top.

2010 will be the second year Smokehead has sponsored the Classic Rock Roll of Honour. Attended last year by the likes of Brian May, Slash, Billy Gibbons and Jeff Beck, the 2010 awards are already shaping up to be even bigger. Smokehead will once again be served to rock royalty, with special bottle presentations of the award-winning 18 Years Old Smokehead Extra Black to the evening’s winners.

Visit the Smokehead website for Smokehead drinking suggestions, Screensavers and to find out more about Smokehead. www.smokehead.co.uk

 
WORLD CUP MEMORIES KICK OFF AS GLENDRONACH RELEASES NEW SINGLE CASK BOTTLINGS
 
WITH WORLDWIDE football fever coming to the boil in the next twenty-four hours, there’s a strong World Cup link to the seven vintages comprising the second batch of GlenDronach’s single cask bottlings released this month.
 
Amongst the seven single malt vintages from the Aberdeenshire distillery, there are two notorious World Cup years – 1978 and 1990.
 
GlenDronach’s Regional Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “If you’re a Scot, you shudder at the memory of 1978…and then laugh uncontrollably at the absurdity of the campaign. It’s synonymous with euphoria, despair, brilliance, incompetence, bad haircuts and mad optimism.
 
“Argentina were the hosts, Scotland was the only home nation represented and the squad left these shores with overblown expectations. The effervescent manager Ally McLeod said we were going to win the World Cup.
 
“And then disaster ensued, followed by near-redemption – humiliation at the hands of Peru and Iran followed by Archie Gemmell’s wonder goal against Holland in the final game.
 
“Fast forward to 1990 when Italy were the hosts and Scotland were back in the competition. It was the year of Toto Schilachi, Pavarotti, Gazza’s tears in the semi-final, Roger Milla, and Scotland’s further humiliation at the hands of Costa Rica followed by an amazing victory over Sweden.”
 
Alistair quipped: “But there is some good news; Scottish fans of GlenDronach will be relieved to know we were unable to find a 1966 vintage!
 
“And in retrospect, maybe it was a mistake not to release a 1986 vintage in honour of Maradona’s “Hand of God” or finding a 1982 to celebrate Dave Narey’s 25-yard toe-poke against Brazil!
 
“The truth is we Scots have yet to realise our true potential in footballing terms, but we’re pretty good at producing single malts like GlenDronach. We hope that as our customers raise a glass from this batch to their lips, they’ll recall some of the World Cup memories we’ve highlighted…and it might help them forget some of the tragedies!”

NOTES 
 
This is the second batch of single cask bottlings to be released by GlenDronach since the distillery changed ownership in 2008.
 
The seven vintages are 1971, 1972, 1978, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993. 
 
71, 72, 90 and 93 were matured in Oloroso sherry butts, 78 in an Oloroso sherry puncheon and 89 and 91 in Pedro Ximinez sherry puncheons.
 
On the nose, they range from “a fruit-laden basket containing brambles, apples and candied orange peel” to “bitter chocolate orange with balanced earthy notes”.
 
And on the palate, the taste sensations range from “liquorice and cloves” to “walnut, baked apples and sweet prunes”.
 
For more information, go to www.glendronachdistillery.com
 
Ends                         10 June 2010
 
INFORMATION – Alistair Walker, 01324 682220

2010 GLENFIDDICH VINTAGE RESERVE

Each year, Glenfiddich releases a strictly limited edition single malt Scotch whisky – the Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve. An auspicious panel of whisky experts and enthusiasts is invited by the Glenfiddich Malt Master to join him in choosing their favourite whisky from a few casks that he has pre-selected. The panel’s choice becomes the year’s Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve.

This year, our new Malt Master – Brian Kinsman – will be joined online by an influential group of whisky bloggers and journalists from around the world. They will meet on Twitter, on Wednesday 9th June 2010, at 12 noon British Summer Time (GMT+1 hour). You can follow this pioneering virtual Vintage Reserve selection live, as it happens, with us here. (Obviously this has already occurred.)

MEET THE PANEL

Introducing the truly global 2010 Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve selection panel. Wherever they are in the world, each of member of the online panel will be nosing and tasting a sample of single malt, from the same cask, at the same time. You’ll be able to read their thoughts and impressions of each cask via their Twitter handle as they add their comments during the event.

Ho-Cheng Yao
Taiwan

Twitter: @kingfishertw
Blog:Single Malt Lover!

Lucas Dynowiak
UK

Twitter: @EdinburghWhisky
Blog:Edinburgh Whisky Blog

Noah Rothbaum
USA

Twitter: @liquordotcom
Blog:Liquor.com

Rick McGinnis
Canada

Twitter: @rickmcginnis
Blog:Rick McGinnis

Hans-Henrik Hansen
Denmark

Twitter: @hhhglenfiddich

Anish Trivedi
India

Twitter: @anish_trivedi
Blog:Raw Spirit

Jerry Lindahl
Sweden

Twitter: @avecprovning
Blog:blog.livetsgoda.se &
Herr J. Lindahls avecprovning

Ilya Krasilshchik
Russia

Twitter: @maliar
Blog:twitter.com/maliar

Cask Number: 28121

Cask Type: American oak hogshead

Date Filled: September 25th 1978

Characteristics: Beautiful deep amber colour with typical American oak notes of sweet vanilla

Cask Number: 28122

Cask Type: American oak hogshead

Date Filled: September 25th 1978

Characteristics: A richer deeper amber colour with complex and powerful notes of oak.

Cask Number: 28145

Cask Type: American oak hogshead

Date Filled: September 25th 1978

Characteristics: A golden amber colour with deeper notes of citrus, like orange.

Cask Number: 28152

Cask Type: American oak hogshead

Date Filled: September 25th 1978

Characteristics: Much paler straw-like colour with classic Glenfiddich fruit characteristics on the nose

THE TASTING

Malt Master, Brian Kinsman will lead the global panel in nosing and tasting samples from the four pre-selected casks, which were all filled from the same batch, on the same day, 25th September 1978. Despite being filled with identical spirit, each unique American oak hogshead cask has spent over thirty years imbuing its contents with its own distinctive personality and characteristics – so which cask will be chosen to be bottled as this year’s Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve?

With the hallmark Glenfiddich distillery character – classic fruit and pear – the winner is cask 28152

http://www.glenfiddichvintagereserve.com/